Washing machine



Jam 14, 1964 lM. FRr-:sARD ETAL 3,117,436

Jan. 14, 1964 M. FRESARD ETAL 3,117,436

WASHING MACHINE Filed March 4, 1963 d K 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 14, 1964 M. FRESARD ETAL WASHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 4, 1963 l v W5/v Tales /Hecfz. F125 5m? D ,C'Qfp U C H E Q United States Patent O 3,117 ,436 W ASHiNG MACHINE Marcel Fresard, Geneva, and Fred Bucher, .lussy-Geneva,

Switzerland, assignors to Melina SA., Fribourg, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Mar. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 262,459

Claims priority, application Switzerland Mar. 8, 1962 4 Claims. (Cl. 158-183) .The present invention concerns a washing machine comprising a tub in which a mass of liquid `for washing is activated by the passage of air across the tub, a circulating Vdevice being provided for catching the air and lather above the level of the liquid in the tub land for effecting introduction of air into the tub by the base thereof.

Washing machines are already known which work in accordance with the principle described above. However, in these known machines it is the Wheel of the circulating air device, and the occurrence of an aspirating device, which is itself charged 'with the separation of the lather and the air. Now, the functioning of these known machines has the disadvantage that the aspirating device is considerably slowed down during its functioning and in its yield as soon as the lather reaches the aspirating turbine wheel.

An object of the present invention is to avoid this disadvantage.

According to the present invention a Washing machine of the type described is characterised in that it comprises a separating device for the lather, independent of the circulating device, formed by a turbine Wheel mounted loosely on an axle in the upper part of the machine in the air circuit in such a manner as to be rotated by the passage of air across it, its rotating movement eiecting a centrifuging of the liquid constituent part of the lather for separating it from the air, means being provided for ensuring the return of this iliquid part to the tub.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a iirst embodiment of washing machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG RE 2 is a rear elevation of the machine like- Wise partly in section;

FIGURE 3 is a plan of the wheel of the separating device for the lather -with the cover plate partially removed;

FGURE 4 is a transverse section on the line lV-IV of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a second embodiment of `washing machine; and

FlGURE 6 is =a rear elevation of the machine likewise partly in section.

The washing machine shown is more especially for washing clothes and comprises a frame 1 enclosing a tub 2 adapted t-ocontain a mass of liquid 3 in which clothes are to be washed. The tub 2 is extended upwardly by the frame and closed by a cover 4. The washing process in this washiniy machine is eiected by the activation of the mass of liquid 3 and of the clothes by the passage of air across the tub 2, an aspirating device catching the air and the lather above the level of liquid in the tub 2 and eiecting an entry of the air thereinto from the base. In the rst embodiment shown tubes 5 having right angled bends are disposed, between the trame 1 and the -tub 2, and in the base thereof. rPhe upper end of each -tube `5 presents a mouthpiece 6 opening at the rear face of the machine. The lower part of each tube "ice 5 presents holes 7 forming a bank of nozzles over the whole of the length of the horizontal part thereof.

An electric motor 3 driving an aspirating wheel 9 is disposed in the upper part of the drame 1. This Wheel 9 is adapted to aspire air into a chamber 10` to force the air radially to the outside by an outlet passage 11 provided in the rear face of the machine. This chamber 10 communicates by way of a passage d2 with a space 13 in which there is disposed a turbine wheel 14 mounted 'loosely on an axle 15 carried by the frame 1. This wheel 14, which is shown in more detail and on a larger scale in FIGURES 3 and 4, is of the centrifuge type. This wheel 14 is, in eiect, formed by a hub 16 having two cheeks 17 and 1S between which `are disposed spirally curved vanes 19. The cheek 1li which is conical presents an opening Ztl in its central part. Opposite this opening 2li lthere is xed a cylindrical channel 21 effecting communication between the space 22 situated above the tub 2 and the opening 20 of the turbine Wheel 14. This wheel 14 is thus disposed in the aspirating circuit of the -aspirating device 3, 9. When the aspirating device 8, `9 functions, the fluid circuit coming from the space 22 passing across this channel 21, the wheel 14, the space 13 and the passage 12 to arrive in the chamber 1G, effects rapid rotation of the turbine Wheel 14. The depression which results from this aspirating movement in the upper part 22 of the tub 2 effects aspiration of air through the mouthpiece 6, air which is distributed b-y the nozzles 7 of the tubes 5. The passage of this air across the mass of liquid and the clothes effects movement of these.

It, after a certain time Ifunctioning period of the machine, lather forms above the level of the liquid mass, this lather is entrained with the air into the channel 21'. The high speed of rotation of the turbine Wheel 14 then Veliects a centrifuging of the liquid constituent part of the lather, which separates this liquid'part from the air. In effect, the liquid part of the lather is projected radially against the lateral `and vertical walls 23 ofthe space 13. This liquid part runs the length of the walls de-limiting the space 13, passes into the lower part of the passage 1?, and returns into the tub 2 by a receptacle 2.4 disposed in the rear part of the machine. This receptacle 2.4 discharges into the base of the tub 2 by way of an oritice 25. The lather is thus separated totally from the air in the space 13 and only the air -ffreed from all liquid part comes into the upper part of the chamber lil to be aspired by the turbine Wheel 9 and forced outwardly through the passage 11.

Due to the fact that the turbine wheel 14 of the separating device for the lather is absolutely independent of the aspirating device, and changing of the speed of rotation of this wheel 14 after influx of lather is without effect on the aspirating device 8, 9 which can continue to function in its normal manner. There is thus never produced la choking of the aspirating device 8, 9 by the lather which is separated from the `air before reaching this device.

ln this rst embodiment, the turbine wheel 1d of the separating device for Ithe lather is maintained on the axle 15 by a simple profiled nut 2-6 screwed on a threaded extension 27 of the axle 15.

A second embodiment of washing machine is shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 `and comprises, as in the iirst embodiment, a frame 1, enclosing in a tub 2 containing a mass of liquid 3 in which clothes are to be Washed. This tub 2 is closed by a cover 4 in its upper part. The upper part of the frame 1 likewise carries an air aspirating device formed by a motor `8 actuating a turbine wheel 9 adapted to aspire air from a chamber A1t) to force it radially. However, instead of forcing the air to the outside, the turbine wheel 9 forces this air into channels 27 bringing it back into the base of the tub 2 by extensions 28 pierced with nozzles 29 forming air distributing banks in the tub 2. Ihis machine is likewise provided with a separating device for lather formed by the turbine wheel 14 carried by the axle 1S, the wheel being adapted to be lactuated by the air circuit arriving from the space 22 and by the channel 21 in the cent-ral opening 20#` of the Wheel 14. The lather, which is s-usceptible to be drawn by the air aspired, is centrifuged against the walls 23 of the space 13 as in the first embodiment, the liquid part separated from air running through the base of the passage 12 into a receptacle 30 provided in the rear part of the machine. This liquid part is collected in the base 31 of this receptacle from where it isk pumped, by the intermediary of the conduit 32, by a pump 33 which forces this liquid into a conduit 34 discharging at 3S into the space 22 situated above Vthe tub 2. This pump 33 is actuated directly by the motor shaft 8 of the air aspirating device.

The functioning of the washing machine in accordance with this second embodiment, is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, that is to say as soon as the aspirating device 8, 9 is actuated, the depression which forms in the space 22 combined with the over pressure existing in the channels 27 effects circulation of air from the nozzles 29 across the mass of liquid 3 into the tub 2. The soap lather, adapted to be drawn in the course of this process of circulation of air, is separated from air by centrifuging by the Vturbine wheel 14 actuated by the passage of ai-r across it. The liquid part separated from the lather is re-collected in the receptacle 36 from whence it is returned by the conduit 32, Ythe pump 33 and the conduit 34 into the upper part of the tub 2. The air arriving in the mouthpiece of the turbine wheel 9 is practically free of all liquid phase, which prevents all choking of the ai-r aspirating device and permits a regular functining thereof, the motor 8 being submitted to a constant load.

Numerous variations of the embodiments of washing machine described yabove could .be made. Likewise the circulation of air across the liquid mass 3, instead of being effected by aspiration in the upper part of the machine, could be effected by the use of a device forcing the air under pressure taken to the outside directly in distributing banks placed in the base of the tub 2.

We claim:

1. A Washing machine comprising a casing, a tub arranged in said casing, said tub being adapted to receive a mass of lliquid and clothes to be washed, air entry means disposed adjacent the base of said tub, means 'for agitating said liquid in said tub 'by passage of air through said tub, an air circulating device mounted on said casing for catching air and lather above the level of liquid in said tub and for effecting entry of air into the tub through said entry means, an independent lather separating device formed by a turbine wheel, mounted loosely on an axle on the upper part of said casing in the air circuit in such a manner as to be rotated by the passage of airacross it, its rotating movement `etecting centrifuging of the liquid constituent partof the lather to free it from air and means yfor ensuring the return of this liquid part to said tub.y

2. A Washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said turbine Wheel rotates in a chamber in communication with a receptacle in fwhich said liquid part is re-collected.

3. A washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said turbine wheel rotates in a chamber in communication with a receptacle in which said liquid part is re-collected, said receptacle in turn communicating with the base of said tub.

4. A washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said turbine wheel rotates in a chamber in communication with a receptacle in which said liquid part is re-collected, a pump having Van aspirating conduit disposed in said receptacle, a forcing conduit from said pump discharging into said'tub toensure the return of said liquid part into said tub.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 17,945 Burke Feb. 3, 1931 1,542,018 Tunstall June 16, ki925 1,961,287 Faber June 5, 1934 

1. A WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING A CASING, A TUB ARRANGED IN SAID CASING, SAID TUB BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A MASS OF LIQUID AND CLOTHES TO BE WASHED, AIR ENTRY MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE BASE OF SAID TUB, MEANS FOR AGITATING SAID LIQUID IN SAID TUB BY PASSAGE OF AIR THROUGH SAID TUB, AN AIR CIRCULATING DEVICE MOUNTED ON SAID CASING FOR CATCHING AIR AND LATHER ABOVE THE LEVEL OF LIQUID IN SAID TUB AND FOR EFFECTING ENTRY OF AIR INTO THE TUB THROUGH SAID ENTRY MEANS, AN INDEPENDENT LATHER SEPARATING DEVICE FORMED BY A TURBINE WHEEL, MOUNTED LOOSELY ON AN AXLE ON THE UPPER PART OF SAID CASING IN THE AIR CIRCUIT IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO BE ROTATED BY THE PASSAGE OF AIR ACROSS IT, ITS ROTATING MOVEMENT EFFECTING CENTRIFUGING OF THE LIQUID CONSTITUENT PART OF THE LATHER TO FREE IT FROM AIR AND MEANS FOR ENSURING THE RETURN OF THIS LIQUID PART TO SAID TUB. 